Page 41 of Family Bonds- Jarrett & Andi

Saturday she worked and Sunday was the day they finally got to spend a few hours together.

She was alone today.

It bothered him and he wanted to invite her but knew she’d say no. And he’d have a lot of questions to answer with his parents. Or his mother at least.

Three datesinand several communications a woman over a few weeks wasn’t enough to invite her to a family dinner. It’d be putting her on the spot, especially after he’d told her how his mother was with the women her sons dated.

He looked up when the door opened and Mac came in carrying a big diaper bag. It made him smile every time he saw it.

Sidney was next holding Jace’s hand. His nephew rarely wanted to be carried, which might be a good thing for Sidney since Jace was a big toddler.

“Uncle Jarrett,” Jace shouted. Or what sounded likethat.The syllables all mashed together.

“Hey, Buddy. Come give me five.”

Jace raced over and climbed into the chair and on his lap, slapped him fiveandthen tried to climb over the arm and reach the distance to the other arm of his father’s chair.

“I don’t think so, Jace,” his father said, reaching his hands over.

Jarrett transferred his nephew to his father’s arms for the high five and then Jace climbed down and ran to the back of the house to see his mother.

“How are you going to manage three of them?” he asked Mac.

“Carefully,” Mac said. “Mom and Dad had no problem with us and we are all two years apart or so. Jace will be a few months shy of three when the twins are born. At least he’s potty trained now.”

“Thank God,” Sidney said. “He was pretty fast and the thought of three diapers at once gives me the shivers.”

“I told Sidney that Jace should go to preschool more than twice a week once the twins are born. Or more now if she needs the rest and to get her work done.”

“I can help out more,” his mother said, bringing in another plate of snacks. This one cut-up fruit, and Jace had a bag of Goldfish crackers in his hand.

“I’ll need it I’m sure,” Sidney said. “In a few months. Fornowit’s good. Those two full days a week give me a lot of time to get my writing and drawing done. The writing isn’t a big deal, but the illustrations take longer. Not to mention the ones I’m doing for other authors.”

“The less Jace naps, the harder it’s going to be,” Mac said. “You know that. You need your rest too.”

“You’re looking at me to help with this battle,” his mother said. “I can and will, but it’s hard for women to give in. It’s a mother’s guilt because Sidney is home and feels she can do it all.”

Jarrett watched as his sister-in-law nodded her head. “I think if I went into an office daily I wouldn’t think that way. But being home, it is harder.”

“And you’re losing your office to the twins so we’ve got to focus more on the house hunt,” Mac said.

“Any luck yet?” he asked.

“Nothing. Or nothingthat ismuch bigger than we have or doesn’t need more work than I can get done before the twins are born.”

“I told Mac it doesn’t matter,” Sidney said. “Outdated doesn’t mean it’s not livable. I don’t care if the kitchen or bathrooms are outdated if they function. We can work on those things in time. Space is more important.”

“Agreed,” his mother said. “Did you find something and don’t agree on that?”

“No,” Mac said. “We haven’t looked at anything that has the space.”

“I found something,” Sidney said. “Yesterday.”

“And you’re telling me now?” Mac asked.

She pulled her phone out and then tossed it to Mac. “It’s big. In our price range, but at the top. Needs updating. Not work to be livable. Just updating. The important things are new. Roof, furnace, and new windows.”

“It’s not that far from Jarrett,” Mac said. “Around the corner.”

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